LatAm Welcomes 200M+ Tourists Per Year. Here's Where They Go

Mexico welcomes close to half of all tourist arrivals into Latin America & the Caribbean each year! But the interest in other parts of the region as tourist destinations has been growing fast; a look into this industry 👇

In 2001, Mexico's tourism department developed a concept to lure national and international travelers to lesser-known attractions in the country — pueblos mágicos.

These include San Miguel de Allende, a picturesque town known for its colonial-style architecture and vibrant arts scene; Todos Santos, a coastal village with a laid-back vibe and beautiful beaches; and Real de Catorce, an isolated mountain town with a rich history and stunning views. Today, there are 132 pueblos mágicos in the country.

The World Bank reported that in 2019, travelers to Mexico spent an all-time high of $25.9B, a 90% increase since 2000 (adjusting for inflation). Interestingly, the number of arrivals to the country is a bit lower than 20 years ago.

In other words, roughly the same number of tourists visit Mexico, but they spend almost twice as much as in 2000.

Part of the plateau in total visitors is likely explained by a growing interest in visiting other parts of Latin America & the Caribbean. For the region as a whole, tourist arrivals went from 161M to 202M in the same period.

Still, Mexico's dominance as a tourist attraction persists, with almost half of all tourism arrivals to the region landing in the country and the 5th most visited worldwide.

Pueblos mágicos are only part of the wonder that Mexico has to offer. Still, they exemplify the decades-old effort by the government to prioritize tourism — which accounts for 7% of GDP — while preserving and promoting Mexico's rich cultural and natural heritage.